The Pillars of the Earth
About this book
The Pillars of the Earth is a historical novel by Welsh author Ken Follett published in 1989 about the building of a cathedral in the fictional town of Kingsbridge, England. Set in the 12th century, the novel covers the time between the sinking of the White Ship and the murder of Thomas Becket, but focuses primarily on the Anarchy. The book traces the development of Gothic architecture out of the preceding Romanesque architecture, and the fortunes of the Kingsbridge priory and village against the backdrop of historical events of the time. --- See also: The Pillars of the Earth: 1/2 The Pillars of the Earth: 2/2
Reader Profile
4.4/5 · 855879 readers · 1040 pages · ≈ 19 h 16 m · Challenging
What order should I read the Kingsbridge series?
Read The Pillars of the Earth first, then follow the publication order above — World Without End, then A Column of Fire, then World Without End, then A Column of Fire.
How long does it take to read The Pillars of the Earth?
About ≈ 19 h 16 m — 1040 pages, assuming roughly 250 words per page at 225 words per minute.
How many pages is The Pillars of the Earth?
1040 pages in its most-read edition.
What genre is The Pillars of the Earth?
It sits on the Historical Fiction, Thriller, History shelves.
Has The Pillars of the Earth been made into a movie or TV show?
Yes — screen adaptations include The Pillars of the Earth (2010).
Is The Pillars of the Earth in the public domain?
No — it is still under copyright.
Who are the main characters in The Pillars of the Earth?
The main characters include Henry I of England, Stephen of Blois, Maud, Robert of Gloucester.
Where does The Pillars of the Earth take place?
It is set in Great Britain, Kingsbridge, Shiring during Stephen, 1135-1154, 1123, 1135.
Who wrote The Pillars of the Earth?
Ken Follett.
Kingsbridge — reading order
- → The Pillars of the Earth (1989) you are here
- 1 World Without End
- 2 A Column of Fire
- 3 World Without End (1961)
- 4 A Column of Fire (2017)
“IN A BROAD VALLEY, at the foot of a sloping hillside, beside a clear bubbling stream, Tom was building a house.”